Ohio Machine 23-Man Roster

The Ohio Machine announced today its 23-man protected roster, which includes Machine co-captain and MLL All-Star Kyle Hartzell, 2013 Machine MVP and MLL All-Star Steele Stanwick and 2013 Machine Defensive Player of the Year Brian Phipps.

Other players protected by the Machine are 2013 rookie standouts Logan Schuss, Marcus Holman, Chase Carraro, Dominique Alexander and Jake Bernhardt. The Machine also protected midfielder Stephen Peyser and defenseman Brian Farrell, both traded for during the off season.

“It’s never easy to cut the roster down to just 23 players and we faced a lot of tough decisions this year,” said Machine President and GM John Algie. “But we’ve established an exciting core of players with a strong mix of proven veterans and young talent to build around. We’re looking forward to adding to this foundation in the upcoming drafts.”

Per MLL rules, each team is required to cut its roster down to 23 total players regardless of each player’s status heading into the off season.

Seven of the 23 players protected are also currently on the U.S. or Canadian Men’s National Team training rosters set to compete at the 2014 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championships. Those players are Brian Farrell (USA), Kyle Hartzell (USA), Marcus Holman (USA), Kiel Matisz (Canada), Stephen Peyser (USA), Logan Schuss (Canada) and Steele Stanwick (USA).

The Machine has also elected to retain the rights of defenseman Joe Lisicky, who was drafted 41st Overall from Lynchburg College in the 2013 MLL Collegiate Draft. Lisicky applied for and was granted a medical redshirt to play his final season for the University of Virginia and will be eligible to play during the 2014 MLL season following the end of his college tenure.

Players from the 2013 season roster not protected include defensemen Ray Megill, who announced his retirement this week after playing seven years in MLL, and Joe Smith, as well as attackman Chazz Woodson. Other players not protected include defensemen Matt Cafarelli, Chris Lightner and Mike Noone, goalies Rob Fortunato and Stefan Schroder and midfielders Colin Fleming, Will Harrington, Kevin Mack and Gerry Reilly.

Players not protected are eligible for the 2014 MLL Supplemental Draft held on December 4, 2013. The Machine currently holds 12 picks in the Supplemental Draft, including the first overall pick. The Machine will continue to add to its roster on January 10, 2014 during the 2014 MLL Collegiate Draft where the Machine holds the first overall pick, plus six additional picks.